112314 – A Peculiar People

1 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

The eighth psalm tells of the excellence of God and of His work in creation. It also tells of the exaltation of God of lowly mankind in His giving them dominion over His creation, as we see in the following verse of scripture.

Genesis 1:28 King James Version (KJV)

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Consider the words of the song of the Majesty and Glory of God that follows this discussion.

As we see the things that are going on in our nation today, we see scenes of rioting, looting, and burning private and public properties. We also see “protestors” blocking roads and impeding the flow of traffic of travelers who have no connection with the cause for which the protestors, aka anarchists, are mounting in their charge against decency. There are also people who have decided to make a statement for their cause by lying down on department store floors and interfering with people who just wanted to buy some goods at those stores. A dictionary definition of “peculiar” can relate to such unlawful actions. Two of the meanings are “odd” and “strange.” It is within my scope of reasoning and understanding to say that such anarchists are truly odd and strange in the way that they go about life. Of course, the word “peculiar” can find its way into biblical scripture. The following two King James Verse scriptures relate to God’s people as being “peculiar.” The Jews were said to be a peculiar people because they were chosen by God to bring the Messiah into the world (Deuteronomy 14:2). Those of us who have come to saving faith through Jesus, the Messiah, are also said to be “peculiar” people. That is because, as it says in 1 Peter 2:9, “we shew forth the praises of God” (See John 1:9). We, as believers in Christ, may also appear to the anarchists as being “odd” and “strange” because we don’t embrace their methods of “bringing about change” in our nation.

Deuteronomy 14:2 King James Version (KJV)

2 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth

1 Peter 2:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

John 1:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

The New American Standard Bible chooses a more contemporary word than peculiar to describe God’s people. In the two following verses, we see that God’s chosen people are “special,” in that we are chosen for God’s own possession. It is clear that the anarchists who are trying to destroy our form of government are not “special” or chosen for God’s own possession.

Let’s consider ways that we can make ourselves known as being “special” and “chosen for God’s own possession.” Let’s take every opportunity that is available to praise God, and to sing praises to Him. We are indwelled by the fruit of the Spirit of God. Let’s live our lives in a way that shows that we are indwelled with, and influenced by, the Spirit of God. (See Galatians 5:23, at the bottom of the page). As we can easily see, the people who are rioting, looting, and burning public and private property show no evidence that they are indwelled by God’s Holy Spirit. As believers in Christ, we have our work laid out for us to do. We must tell the anarchists, and the other lost people of the world, the words of Jesus, per Matthew 28:18-20 (See below). We must never forget the words that Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, that in order for us to see the Kingdom of God we must be born again (See John 3:3-8 below).

Deuteronomy 14:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

1 Peter 2:9 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”

John 3:3-8 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Now, let us enter into a time of worship and praise, as we consider the Majesty and Glory of God.